Ericsson launches always-on mobile broadband chip for Windows 7 machines

Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson today has announced its newest mobile broadband module, which offers promising wireless features built specifically for upcoming Windows 7 devices.

Ericsson's Vice President of Mobile Broadband Modules, Mats Norin, told Betanews that the F3607gw module consumes half the battery of its predecessor. With this decreased battery consumption, the module's HSPA/GPRS/EDGE radios can remain connected even when the equipped device (notebook, netbook, MID, etc) is asleep.

With this permanent connection, the device can be endowed with security and monitoring features comparable to a LAN-connected device, such the ability to be remotely awoken, patched, or pushed content.

A computer can also be given an emergency "kill pill" in cases of theft or breach of security, bricking the system to all but the remote security admin.

Since the module contains a GPS transciever, protected units like those in a workplace can be given a notebook's equivalent to an electric dog fence. Once the unit is taken beyond the established perimeter, for example, it can automatically be locked down.

Ericsson has announced no distribution deals for its module so far, but says it is working closely with Intel on integrating the module into future platorms, similar to the way many intel ATX and Mini-itx boards are equipped with Remote Wake technology or Wake on Wireless LAN (WoWLAN).